Ceratostylis acutifolia

Ceratostylis acutifolia Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 254

Type: Schlechter 18748 (holo B, lost; iso K)

Epiphytic, erect, caespitose, 30-40 cm high. Rhizome very short. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous. Stems slender, terete, glabrous, erect, at the base covered with acuminate, reticulate-nervose sheaths, 17-27 cm long, 0.2-0.23 cm across, 1-leaved. Leaves erect, linear, acute, in basal part gradually subpetiolate-narrowed, glabrous, coriaceous, 12-16 cm long, near the middle 0.5-0.7 cm wide. Inflorescences several, arranged into a terminal capitulum, covered with ovate, obtuse or apiculate scales. Floral bracts very small, ovate, apiculate, hyaline. Flowers erect-patent. Sepals oblong, narrowly obtuse, outside puberulous, 0.55 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, at the base along the front margin conspicuously widened and connate; mentum oblong, obtuse, 0.35 cm long. Petals obliquely elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip narrowly oblong-ligulate, somewhat narrower at the base, in apical third carnose-thickened, glabrous, 0.75 cm long. Column barely reaching the basal third of the lip, arms quadrate-oblong, glabrous; foot rather long. Anther subreniform, in front truncate, dorsally umbonate, glabrous. Ovary cylindrical, puberulous, subsessile, about 0.5 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914).

Colours: Flower red-brown, lip apex yellow.

Habitat: Epiphyte in upper montane forest. Altitude 2010-3050 m.

Flowering time in the wild: January, February, May, June, July, December.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 125-1M.JPG

Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.

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